Software training & Support

Accounts software

Finding the right accounts software to suit your particular needs can be tricky. Not to mention having the system installed, learning how to use it and making sure you have reliable technical back-up. Luckily, at Elsby & Co we have a particular interest in such things, and we’re familiar with all types of computerised accounting packages. We can be your accountant in the cloud.

Our accounts software services include:

Advising on the best accounting system for your business

Assisting with set up and training of staff

Providing ongoing support

Jacob Stone - Semi-Senior Accountant and Xero Champion

I always knew I wanted to be an accountant and worked hard to find the right path for me. After finishing school, I joined sixth form in the hope to then go on to university and study accounting and finance. Within the first year I realised that this was not the best way for me to go about developing my knowledge and getting myself into the accounting world.

I quickly made a change to Cambridge Regional College, where I started to study my AAT alongside a business NVQ. As I was taking my final exam for level 2 AAT I managed to secure my first training job in South Cambridge for a small firm, where I developed and grew all the basic skills I needed to progress through the levels of my AAT.

After four and half years as a trainee in Cambridge, passing all the levels of the AAT and becoming a member of the association of accounting technicians, I decided it was the right time to start my professional studies. With this came the decision to move to Elsby & Co, a bigger practice with more ability to help me develop to become a better and more knowledgeable accountant.

It was this stage in my career that I was introduced to Xero and within my first few weeks I was enrolled and completing the Xero certification to become Xero certified. After spending the bulk of my career using software’s, such as Sage and Quickbooks, I instantly identified that Xero was the ultimate accounting package, not just for accountants but for clients as well. It is very user friendly and the ability to be logged in at the same time as the client really helps when guiding and advising a client on how they need to use the software.

I am now one of the first points of call for clients and enjoy assisting our clients with the software to make their lives easier and free them up to do what they do best. I also provide a lot of training to clients on Xero, whether it is one to one or group trainings and have had positive feedback on how resourceful and useful my time spent with them has been. I am always up to date with how Xero changes, new features that are introduced by attending regular courses that Xero provide.

Liz Brewster - Assistant Accountant and Xero Champion

After my Maths degree, I chose a career in IT. I worked on applications development for 18 years, latterly specialising in business systems implementation. After starting a family, I chose to change careers and qualified as a bookkeeper through the Institute of Certified Bookkeeping. I ran my own self employed bookkeeping business for nearly 10 years before deciding to join Elsby and Co in 2016. I became a Xero partner in 2010, after reviewing the cloud accounting systems on offer at the time. Xero was the clear leader with functionality, ease of use and price being the key factors. Xero has continued to be developed and today is still the best cloud accounting system out there, even though there are now many more cloud based systems available. Xero has over 250,000 businesses using Xero in the UK alone, and a growing market share in the UK and around the world.

At Elsby and Co, I am able to combine my IT skills and accounting knowledge to help businesses setup and configure Xero to meet their business needs. Accounting systems are not just about putting data in to produce reports for the taxman. They are there to help you manage your business by understanding what your costs are, and how your sales are increasing. Configuring Xero in the right way helps you produce meaningful management reports to do this.

As one of the Xero Champions at Elsby and Co, I could say I know Xero inside out. I know its strengths and areas of the system that need further development. I keep abreast of the monthly product updates, and have experience with some of the add-ones that extend the cloud functionality beyond accounting (e.g. Point of sale, CRM and time and expense tracking).

Outside of work I like to keep active, playing tennis when I can, and running regularly with our local running club. Recently, I helped set up a new junior hockey club in my home town and we have nearly 100 juniors starting their hockey careers. I am also involved with MK Inclusive Tennis, and have coached visually impaired tennis to adults and children.

Keep in touch

We keep our clients up to date with BIG changes via our tips and tax advice bulletins, which will be sent by email.

These will include deadline reminders, particularly HMRC related, legislation updates and tax planning ideas. Where a change affects a client directly, we will, of course, be in touch personally, but at least these bulletins will give our clients advance warnings of changes ahead. Simply complete the form below to register.